Stanisław Moniuszko (1819-1872) was apart from Chopin, the most outstanding composer of 19th century Polish music. Whereas Chopin rose to great heights in piano-music, Moniuszko's principal achievements lay in the songs (in which field he was dubbed the "Polish Schubert") and opera genres to which he was a leading contributor. Greatly talented and well educated - like Chopin - he endowed his music with its uniquely Polish character and became an educator of the Polish nation helping its society to survive the perilous years of foreign occupation. His works have become firmly embedded in the Polish psyche and remain powerful in their artistic expression. Reflecting on Moniuszko's creative talent, the contemporary avant-garde composer Bogusław Schaeffer aptly said "the heights to which he rose could only be attained by the most talented and as such, he was a composer of European standing".